The Battlefield

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:13

We call it gray matter. Weighing in at approximately 3 lbs. with an average of 53 centimeters in circumference the brain is one of our most powerful organs. In its corrupted form it can torture and brutally murder a man and in its sharpened state it can perform an intricate surgery to save a human life. It is a blank slate at birth and a crowded chalkboard at death. Most of our memories lay in our subconscious and they say we record virtual everything.  True, we may not remember much of what has been written there, but it is nonetheless full. Between birth and death, it is crucial we give great attention to what is written thereon. The Proverbs teaches that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7) Truly it deserves our utmost protection and development.

My friend Jim Cullen had lost all orientation to his surroundings. That fact was painfully evident when the ball was snapped, and he stayed in his three-point stance at right guard. The play was in full motion, but there he was, motionless. Apparently, some of the padding in his helmet had fallen out and he had taken several blows to the head. Jim was escorted to the sideline to regain his faculties and the game went on. Helmets are not an optional part of a football players uniform, they are essential. Without them, serious, sometimes permanent injury can take place. In Jim’s case it was only temporary, we suspect, and he went on to live a happy and healthy life.

The necessity of a helmet in the world of sports or on the battlefield are indisputable. To protect the brain when dangerous situations present themselves is crucial. Life, much like action on a football field, moves at the speed of light and decisions must be made in real time with split second clarity. The dark paths we walk down are sometimes a result of a moment in which we were not thinking correctly. Decisions made in the midst of a dark, foggy mind are soon a source of deep regret. Like my friend Jim, all of life swirls around us and we can become frozen in our three-point stance unable to see the dangers ahead. During these brain freezes we set our mouth in motion before our mind has shifted into gear. The results is a knock to the head. Little wonder Paul admonished, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) In the spiritual realm, the renewal of the mind involves applying the Scripture to life’s experiences through faith. If we are to think correctly, we must think and live biblically.

The apostle Paul saw the necessity of this when he directed the soldier of Christ to put on the helmet of salvation. (Ephesians 6:17) To again state the obvious, the helmet protects the brain which effects our thinking. Paul is encouraging us to orientate our lives according to the deliverance we have received through redemption. In other words, we are to protect our thinking processes by keeping our mind focused on the freedom we have in Christ. Our salvation is designed to release us from guilt, shame, discouragement, fear and a laundry list of human defects from our old patterns of thinking. We say, in the weakest of moments, that we are only human but that is not true. We are more than conquerors through Christ. (Romans 8:37) Everything changes when we truly believe what God has said about us. No longer are we fighting for victory over sin but from a victory that has already been won on the cross. Our salvation is fully effectual as it relates to real life moments.

For the follower of Christ, the world is a battlefield and helmets are not optional. We have been promised that we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and that is nurtured by growth in his Word. Marching into the conflict of daily living we can be assured that his thoughts will guide us, and his Spirit will lead us. When that mindset saturates our thinking, we naturally walk down the right path. Right thinking in a wrong world requires faith, and specifically, faith in the power of Christ to face the greatest temptation and come out victorious. We are not a defeated army. We are marching to Zion with hands lifted high and praise upon of lips. Stop making excuses for sin and put on the helmet of salvation. Think according to the victory he has promised. You will be amazed at how simple life becomes and how small and defeated the enemy appears. A life lived without the proper helmet will leave you dizzy and confused. Just ask Jim Cullen.